Portable steering apparatus for outboard motor boats



Nov. 7, 1961 L. J. SANDMAN 3,007,429

PORTABLE STEERING APPARATUS FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Filed Jan. 19, 1959 I 2 g Z I: g Z

ii .\\\\\\\I lV 25 p \g/ 37 46 45 l6 a i a 'g I? I 2% I1 g 4 Q INVENTOR. z l9 LEONARD J. SANDMAN.

t 27 BY 26 Q M 32 H 28 ATTORNEY.

Uni d at s Pa n PORTABLE STEERING APPARATUS; FOR

- OUTBOARD MOTOR BOATS Leonard J. Sandman, 8245 Royal Heights Drive, I. CincinnatLOhio FiledJan; 19,1959, Ser. No. 787,419 I 3 Claims. (C l.114 160) This invention relates to a portable apparatus for steer ing outboard moto'r'boats from a position removed from the motor. I am aware that a number. of devices have been proposed for this purpose, but in all instances they are quite complicated and costly and'in many cases the devices interfere with free movement of. persons in the boat. A great number of people carry outboard motors intheir car for'use on rented and with-my improvement, which can be carried in a small packagethey can quickly and easily install the steering apparatus on the boat to provide steering from a seat removed from the outboard motor. My device is constructed to be attached to either side 04? the boat whereby the user can sit on the left or the right, leaving the opposite side of the boat free fior movement of persons in the boat.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable steering apparatus of simple construction which can be easily assembled and attached to boats of various crosssectional contour with a of effort.

A further object is to provide a steering column which can be adjusted to any angular position for ease of operation.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the vertical position of the steering column relative to the contour of the side of the boat.

A further object is to provide means for adjusting the tension on the steering column.

My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a boat with my improvement mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of my improvement, with the steering wheel in a vertical position, and partly broken away.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the same, with the steering wheel in angular position.

FIG. -4 is a detail vertical section, taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

My improved steering mechanism comprises a supporting member 11 having depending spaced apart arms 12 and 13 Eur attaching the supporting member to a gunwale 14 of a boat 15 by means of clamp bolts 16 and 17. The upper portion of the member 11 is formed to provide a channel 18 to support a transverse tube 19. The tube 19 is secured in the channel by means of a bolt 20 extending through a slot 21 in the. base of the channel and through the tube 19 with a thumb nut 22 securing the tube to the channel. The other end of the channel side walls are provided with a series of apertures 23 for reception of a bolt 24 extending through the tube 19 and the walls of the channel to firmly hold the tube 19 in the channel.

A bearing block 25 is provided with a horizontal aperture 26, through which the tube '19 extends. The bearing block can be locked in adjusted position on the tube 19 in endwise position and/or angular position by means of the set screw 27. T he bearing block 25 has a vertical aperture 28 for reception of a sleeve 29. A steering column 30 is rotatable in the sleeve and is held in endwise position by means of a collar 31 secured to the column by means of a set screw 32.

Sheaves 33 and 34 are received on the column above sheave 5.4.

3,007,429 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 ice the bearing block and held on' column by means of set screws 3'5 and 36. A wheel 37 is attached to. the top of the column by a set screw 38. The hub of steering-column isprovided with a'ley recess 39 iior engagement with .an extension 40 onthe hub of 'the screws 41 in the bearingblock 25 provide. tension?) .th sleeve 29 to create the desired tension on steerinf 11;

- Theout ardmotor 42} is. mounted on 'tlierear of'a boaitfl sandfa single pulley and a double pulley 44 are secured to the respective rear. ofthe'boat.

A double pulley 45 is pivoted to a flange 46 en the, supporting. .member 11. Flexible cords 47 and" Y48' have one. end. attached .to the motor and extend over. the pul leys with the other ends wound on and attached to the sheaves in reverse directions to provide. steering of the boat. 1 'Y ..I With my improvement the steering wheel can be posi tioned on either side of the boat and the flexible cables adjusted to provide the proper direction of steering wheel manipulation to steer the boat. Attaching the device to a boat with angular gunwales, the bolt 24 is positioned in one of the other apertures 23 to set the tube 19 in a horizontal position.

The device can be easily assembled or disassembled and packed in a small package for transportation. The steering column can be tilted to any desired angle by loosening the set screw 27, tilting the column and then tightening the set screw. On some outboard motors the point of attachment of the flexible cables may be at the forward end of the motor. In such cases the set screws and 36 are loosened and the sheaves rotated to wind the flexible cables the opposite direction. The set screws are then tightened to provide the proper steering direction.

With the entire operating mechanism of the device secured to one side of the boat, it does not interfere with free movement of the occupants in the boat.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a boat having gunwales and an outboard motor mounted on the rear of said boat, a portable remote steering apparatus adapted to be mounted on the boat comprising a supporting member, said member provided with depending spaced arms having clamping bolts to firmly hold said member to one of the gunwales of the boat, the upper portion of said member forming a channel, a tubular member extending inwardly and supported in said channel, a vertical pivot bolt extending through said tubular member and said channel, a series of apertures in said channel for a crossbolt to hold the end of the tubular member for adjusting the angular position of said tubular member relative to said channel a bearing block adjustable on the inner end of said tubular member, a steering column extending through said bearing block, sheaves on said column, a steering wheel connected to said sheaves, and flexible connections extending from said sheaves over pulleys and connected to said motor controlled by said steering wheel for changing the driving position of said outboard motor relative to said boat. I

2. In combination with a boat having gunwales and an outboard motor mounted on the rear of said .boat, a portable remote steering apparatus adapted to be mounted on said boat comprising a supporting member, said member provided with depending spaced arms, said arms having clamping bolts to firmly hold said member to a gunwale of the boat, the upper portion of said member forming a channel extending transverse of said boat, a

tubular member extending inwardly and supported in.

tubulnr member 'and'said channel, a series of apertures in said channel for a cross=bolrtu hold the "end of the tubular member for adjusting the angular position of said tubular member relative to said channel, a bearing block adjustable n the "inner and of said tubular mem her, a column extending said bearing block, s'hmv'es on said column "a steering wheel eonnamed to 'said sheaves, flexible extending 15mm "said sheaves over pulleys and connected to said motdrconwolied by said steering wheel fox-changing the driving direction of said 'olitbo'ard motor, and means for adjusting the tension on said 'steering 'coltrmn,

3. In combination with a boat having gunwales and 1 4 said cihzmnel, a vertical pivot bolt extending through said rubniar member and said channel, a series of sputum sion on said steering eolunm, iheaves on said column,

an outbn A motor mounted 'on-th'e df said a port'aible remote steering apparatus adapted to be mounted 'on side or said boat comprising asuppom ing member, said memner provided de ending spaced arms, having clamping bolts to -firmly holdsaiil 's'uppontingmeniber to the gunwalc of sid boat, upper portion of said member forming a channel, a tubular member extending inwardly and supportai in a steering Wheel :10 "said sheaves, and flexible connections extending said sheaves over pulleys and connected to said motor controlled by said steering wheel for ehangingthe driving direction of said outboardmotor.

- Referenc s Cited in the iileo'f'this p'atent UNITED STATES :PATENTS 964,879 Park my 1 9, 1910 2,199,934 wimak A r. 30, 1940 2,627,833 Sehmeder -4. .Feb. '10, 1953 2338;021 West June 10, 1958 

